The night's biggest affair will found at Vaudeville Mews in Downtown Des Moines as the venue hosts Asklandaganza 667, the 7th annual birthday party for talent booker Ladd Askland. There will be games, contests, a raffle, and lots of Black Velvet, plus musical performances by Quick Piss, Karen Meat & The Players, Derek Lambert & The Prairie Fires, perennial headliners The Poison Control Center, and maybe a few surprises. The party starts at 8 p.m., and there will be a $7 cover for this 21-and-over event.

The Maintenance Shop in Ames will host an all ages show by The Lone Bellow tonight at 9 p.m. Opening the sold-out show will be Iowa native Damon Dotson. People named The Lone Bellow's 2013 debut album one of the magazine's top albums of the year. The Brooklyn band blends rock, gospel, country, and blues into what they call "Brooklyn country". This should be a great show.

Aaron Williams & The Hoodoo will grace the stage at the Gas Lamp in Des Moines at 9 p.m. The Wisconsin-based rock and blues act was nominated for a Grammy in 2011 for "Blues Album of the Year". There will be a $7 cover at the door for this 21-and-over show.

Finally, Des Moines rockers IVA will hold a CD release party at Wooly's In Des Moines tonight for their new album Hot Blood. The music will kick off at 7 p.m. with Des Moines rockers Handlebar, the Minneapolis folk act The Still Sound, and the Oskaloosa rocker group Fatal Addiction serving as openers. Tickets are $10 for this all ages event.

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Charles has been a music lover his whole life. He spent 4 years as an on-air radio personality and 2 years as a music director. From rock to rap, jazz to country, and all points in between, Charles covers it. This column will preview upcoming concerts, bring you band interviews, take you behind the scenes at the recording studios, review live shows, and help you find the best venues. Charles knows good music and wants to share his knowledge with you.